Srinagar, October 31: Nearly three months after the Centre announced the abrogation of Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir was officially bifurcated into two Union Territories - Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. On the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel today, the state of Jammu and Kashmir has formally transitioned into two Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. With this change, India now has 28 states and 9 Union Territories. Jammu And Kashmir No Longer a State, J&K And Ladakh Become Separate Union Territories on 144th Birth Anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Girish Chandra Murmu on Thursday took oath as the first lieutenant governor of the newly formed union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Murmu was appointed as the first Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir on October 21. Meanwhile, RK Mathur also took oath as L-G of the Union Territory of Ladakh on Thursday. Girish Chandra Murmu Takes Oath as First Lieutenant Governor of Jammu And Kashmir, RK Mathur Becomes L-G of Ladakh.

Here are some of the changes that will take place following the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir:

  •  According to the government notification, following the creation of two UTs, the President's rule imposed in undivided Jammu and Kashmir has been revoked. Central laws will now be applicable in these two Union Territories.

  • The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will have a legislature like Puducherry, while Ladakh will be a Union Territory without legislature like Chandigarh. Both these Union Territories will now be headed by two separate lieutenant governors.

  • From now on, the laws passed by the Parliament will be applicable to Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Article 370 prevented the application of such laws in Jammu and Kashmir.

  • Jammu and Kashmir will have its own Legislative Assembly with an increased number of seats.   Now there will be 114 seats in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly as against 107 seats earlier.

  • The tenure of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly will be five years compared to six years earlier.

  • The Legislative Council of Jammu and Kashmir stands abolished.

  • The police in these Union Territories will come under the direct control of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

  • Both these Union Territories will have a common High Court.

  • Laws related to the ownership of land and property in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will now be amended and will be applicable.

  • As per the recommendation of the Seventh Pay Commission, the government employees of the two new Union Territories will start getting salaries and other benefits.

Following the birth of Jammu and Kashmir as a new union territory of India, names of government-run radio stations in Jammu, Srinagar and Leh have been renamed as All India Radio - Jammu, All India Radio - Srinagar and All India Radio - Leh, respectively.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 31, 2019 03:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).